Saddletree.



J. W. VANCE.

SADDLETREE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 2, 1909.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

314 ue wkot Jokn 14 4 Vance,

Witneoow TED STATES PATENT orrm JOHN W. VANCE, 0F SAGINAW, NORTH CAROLINA.

SADDLETREE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. VANCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saginaw, in the county of Mitchell and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddletrees, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in saddles, and the invention has for its object an improved saddle tree which embodies a novel arrangement of parts through the instrumentality of which it is rendered susceptible of being quickly and conveniently adjusted in contour, so as to fit snugly the back of the horse to which it is applied. The saddle is thus retained against any slipping movement, whereby to preclude chafing the horses back and to insure ease and comfort to both the rider and the horse.

lVith this and other objects in view that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereafter fully describe and then point out the novel features of in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the following de scription and accompanying drawing, in

I which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a saddle constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the saddle tree; and, Fig. 3 is a perspective view thereof.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and inclicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

My improved saddle tree embodies two longitudinal saddle bars 1 that are arranged to extend on opposite flanks of the horse in the customary manner and are connected at their front and rear ends respectively by a pommel 2 and a cantle 3. The pommel and cantle are substantial duplicates in structure and each is composed of inner and outer arch-shaped springs or bows 4 and 5 which are secured terminally to the corresponding ends of the saddle bars. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 2, 1909.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910. Serial No. 505,766.

inner spring is disposed directly beneath the outer spring and is relatively shorter and somewhat weaker than the same. The saddle bars 1 are interposed between the adjacent ends of the springs, as best seen in Fig. 2, so as to space them apart. At their middle points the springs are normally maintained in spaced relation through the medium of an interposed helical expansion spring 6 that encircles a bolt 7 The bolt is passed upwardly through the inner and outer springs and has its threaded extremity upstanding from the latter and adapted for the reception of a nut 8. When this nut is tightened the bolt 7 is moved upwardly against the compression of the spring 6 and the middle portion of the relatively weak spring 4 is drawn toward the outer spring 5, whereby to move the straddle bars 1 toward each other and increase the curvature of the saddle tree, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

9 designates a flat metallic brace bar which is attached at an intermediate point by the bolt 7 to the middle of the inner spring 4, the ends of the bar extending oppositely between the spaced springs 4 and 5 and being normally spaced apart from the outer s ring (see Fig. 2). However, when the inner spring is drawn upwardly toward the outer spring, the brace bar 9 bears terminally against the inner surface of the latter, to strengthen the structure as a whole.

The saddle tree may be padded and covered in any approved manner, as this in itself forms no part of the present invention and is left to the discretion of the sad dle maker. It is to be borne in mind how ever, that the nuts 8 of both the pommel and cantle are arranged on the outside of the covering so as to be readily accessible for use in adjusting the saddle.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved saddle tree which admits of' the saddle being positively and conveniently adjusted in contour to fit horses of different sizes or to meet any particular requirement of the rider; which may be advantageously employed in connection with both ladies and gentlemens saddles; which embodies to a marked degree the characteristics of simplicity, durability and strength and is otherwise particularly attractive; and which consists of comparatively few parts that are not likely to get out of order. I a 1 A U-shaped metallic loop 10 preferably straddles the nut 8 at the front of the saddle and is pivoted terminally thereto. This loop has been found convenient for man-' ually operating the nut; for attaching the reins; and for various other purposes that will at once present themselves to the user of the saddle.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a saddle tree embodying longitudinal saddle bars, pairs of inner and outer arch-shaped springs connecting the saddle bars and se cured terminally thereto, the springs of each pair being spaced apart and the inner spring being weaker than the outer, and means for drawing the middle portions of the respective inner springs toward the outer springs to change the contour of the saddle.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a

saddle tree embodying longitudinal saddle bars, a pommel and a cantle, the pomniel and cantle each comprising a palr of lnner and outer arch-shaped springs secured terminally to the saddle bars and space'd apart between the-same, a"bolt"passecrthrbugh the cured tern'iinallythereto and-'spacedtapartl between the same, means for: drawing togetherthennddle portions of the respective pairsof springs, andbrace bars secured at intermediate points to the middle portions of the inner springs and arranged between the springs of each pair and adapted to hear terminally against the outer springs.

In testimony where'ofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN Va VANCE, [L.s.] Vitnesses: i i

'R. W. GRA 1 W. H. GRAe'e; 

